1 Topic by Omni417

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Topic: Extruder stepper motor not fitting with acrylic.

I haven't used my solidoodle for almost 2 months because of an extensive order mix-up. To get it back up and ready, I was assembling my acrylic parts. When I was attaching the six screws, I noticed that the four screws that go into the motor do not fit. It's like the screws had translated and 1mm down. The motor fits snug again the acrylic, but the screws are not in to the correct position to go into the stepper housing.  I thought that was weird, so I pulled my factory-new pre-assembled acrylic and hot end.  It was an identical problem. All four screws are mis-aligned by the same vector.

It can't move down because it is resting on it's platform of the X-carriage. The acrylic can't move up because of the two lower screws through the X-carriage.

Attached are some pictures to help the explanation. (I moved back the motor to show the mis-alignment. The alignment shown is what it is when they are butted together)

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2013-01-15 11.11.32.jpg 582.28 kb, 2 downloads since 2013-01-15 

2013-01-15 11.12.41.jpg 550.18 kb, 2 downloads since 2013-01-15 

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2 Reply by cmetzel

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Re: Extruder stepper motor not fitting with acrylic.

Is the hole pattern on the motor symetrical?  Are you sure it's not rotated 90deg from how it's supposed to be installed? 

I'm not sure I understand your issue.

3 Reply by Omni417 (edited by Omni417 2013-01-15 19:13:21)

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Re: Extruder stepper motor not fitting with acrylic.

When I first got the Solidoodle it would only fit with some persuasion. The holes on the motor are about 1mm higher than the corresponding screws on both acrylic/hot end parts.  I'm baffled.  The wires come off to the left side, so I believe it is in the correct orientation.

4 Reply by cmetzel

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Re: Extruder stepper motor not fitting with acrylic.

What is preventing the motor from moving in the direction it needs to go?

5 Reply by Omni417

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Re: Extruder stepper motor not fitting with acrylic.

The motor rests on the 3D printed X-carriage piece. It cannot move down as it is on the rails. The four screws can't move up because of the two long screws in the bottom prevent it from moving up. If four screws are first screwed into the motor, the bottom two screws are too low for the holes in the acrylic. I'd hate to  "shave down" the 3d printed part... I don't want to mess that up...

6 Reply by cmetzel

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Re: Extruder stepper motor not fitting with acrylic.

hmm... and all the holes are the same distance from the edge on the motor?  So if you turned the motor 180 degrees it still wouldn't fit, right? 

I'm just trying to imagine how that would happen unless they sent you something new after they made an upgrade or started using different parts.

7 Reply by Omni417

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Re: Extruder stepper motor not fitting with acrylic.

Just tried the other two orientations (the cables are taped to a side) Same z difference.

8 Reply by Omni417

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Re: Extruder stepper motor not fitting with acrylic.

Since it is about the same distance away from the different orientations from the motor, I think I can rule out that it is the motor's fault.

Both the acrylic assemblies are having the same distance of a problem.  One is BRAND new, so I doubt it is that.

Since it has pretty much been like this since I got it, (The first few times took effort to get them to fit) the only things I see left as culprits are that the screw position on the printed part was off, or the dimentions were a litle of on the 3d printed piece, adding height.


Any other ideas?

9 Reply by cmetzel

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Re: Extruder stepper motor not fitting with acrylic.

Where exactly would you have to shave on the 3d printed part since it seems likes that's going to be your best bet?  Maybe it won't be a huge deal.

10 Reply by Omni417 (edited by Omni417 2013-01-15 20:26:45)

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Re: Extruder stepper motor not fitting with acrylic.

I would need to shave about 1mm off of the top surface of the printed part. That would lower the holes to all fit. Afraid of wrecking it...

May be my best option? hmm

11 Reply by Omni417

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Re: Extruder stepper motor not fitting with acrylic.

Oh btw, thanks for trying to help me.

12 Reply by cmetzel

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Re: Extruder stepper motor not fitting with acrylic.

Can you post a picture of where you'd shave?

I'm hoping someone else will come along and weigh in before you cut and we find out it's staring us in the face.

13 Reply by Omni417 (edited by Omni417 2013-01-15 20:42:59)

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Re: Extruder stepper motor not fitting with acrylic.

This guy.

(The black 3d printed part's top surface)

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14 Reply by cmetzel

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Re: Extruder stepper motor not fitting with acrylic.

Doesn't look like it would be a major deal to me, but please get a couple more people on board before doing it so we don't end up doing more harm than good.  Have you tried contacting support about it?

15 Reply by Omni417

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Re: Extruder stepper motor not fitting with acrylic.

Not for this issue, but for a couple others I have. I haven't really had productive sessions with the support team via email.....   ....

16 Reply by cmetzel

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Re: Extruder stepper motor not fitting with acrylic.

It's been hit or miss with many.  See if you can get them on a skype or something, I think I've heard of people doing that.  Or at least a phone call so you have their attention.

17 Reply by elmoret

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Re: Extruder stepper motor not fitting with acrylic.

Omni417 wrote:

This guy.

(The black 3d printed part's top surface)

That's their old print carriage. The new one is more solid.

If it was me, I'd make them ship me one that fit.

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18 Reply by IanJohnson

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Re: Extruder stepper motor not fitting with acrylic.

That's the old x carriage.  I wonder if the new ones have their mounting holes in a slightly different spot and that acrylic is meant for them.

19 Reply by cmetzel

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Re: Extruder stepper motor not fitting with acrylic.

Having just gone through it, I can understand the frustration of waiting.  I would ask them for the new carriage as well but in the mean time do either of you see an issue with shaving 1mm to make it fit so he can print while he waits?  Doesn't look like it would damage anything structurally.

20 Reply by Omni417

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Re: Extruder stepper motor not fitting with acrylic.

It feels like that must be the case... I guess this was just a defective one of the lot. How should I go about asking for a different one?

21 Reply by cmetzel

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Re: Extruder stepper motor not fitting with acrylic.

I would think if you say "My acrylic doesn't line up with my printed X carriage so I can't put it together, the soliforum people say it's the old carriage, can I get a new one so I can put it together and print" they would ship one to you.  It just may take a little while.

22 Reply by elmoret

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Re: Extruder stepper motor not fitting with acrylic.

IanJohnson wrote:

That's the old x carriage.  I wonder if the new ones have their mounting holes in a slightly different spot and that acrylic is meant for them.

Wouldn't surprise me. The new carriage is 5mm longer - the old bolts don't work. The new bolts they specify are 4-40, no longer M3 thread. Probably because anything longer than 50mm in M3 is nearly impossible to source.

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